In one of Belgium’s largest-ever drug trials, a Brussels court handed down sentences to dozens of defendants on Tuesday, including some of the ringleaders of a vast international drug trafficking operation. The case involved more than 120 accused individuals from Belgium, Albania, Colombia, and North Africa, who allegedly took part in smuggling cocaine and cannabis across Europe. Key leaders, such as Algerian Abdelwahab Guerni, received a 17-year sentence, while Albanian Eridan Munoz Guerrero was sentenced to 14 years.
The extensive criminal network, active from 2017 until late 2022, was dismantled after coordinated police raids across Belgium, Germany, and Italy. Evidence in the trial was largely based on encrypted communications obtained after investigators cracked the Sky ECC and EncroChat messaging apps, allowing authorities to monitor the smugglers’ planning.
The operation revealed Belgium's prominent role as a drug entry point into Europe, especially via the port of Antwerp. Prosecutors requested up to 20-year sentences for some participants, claiming that the trafficking scheme involved structured criminal alliances with clear hierarchies. Defense attorneys, however, criticized the trial, arguing that prosecutors combined unrelated cases to create a more sensational court proceeding.
While some defendants were acquitted, others were sentenced to terms ranging from a few months to over a decade. Initially set for September 2, the final verdict was delayed due to an objection by one of the defendants.
